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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2008

Updated:

FUJIYA & MIYAGI:
LIGHTBULBS
(DEAF DUMB & BLIND) ***

Fujiya & Miyagi (an English trio, rather than an Asian duo - take that, expectations!) are either heavily ironic or heavily absurd: Vanilla strawberry/Knickerbocker glory/I saw the ghost of Lena Zavaroni, anyone? But "Lightbulbs" is so full of creamy pop goodness the lyrics can be taken as the afterthought they very well may be.

Opening track "Knickerbocker" - from whence the above lyrics sprang - is tongue-in-cheek dance-rock. "Goosebumps" might actually give you some, but its dreamy textures more likely will lull you into a blissfully altered consciousness.

Download this: "Goosebumps"

Curtis Ross

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD:
ALL REBEL ROCKERS
(ANTI) ***

From the moment you hear this album's first dub-influenced track, "Rude Boys Back in Town," it's easy to absorb the reggae rock energy of Franti and friends.

"Rebel Rockers" meanders along a roots reggae dance hall journey, which makes sense considering it was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica.

Tracks "Hey World (Remote Control Version)" or "Life in the City" make it easy to imagine the sweaty masses moving along to the riddim all the while remaining socially conscious. Pleasantly surprising vocal support comes from dance hall singer Cherine Anderson or Zap Mama's Marie Daulne.

Download this: "Say Hey (I Love You)"

Sarah Hoye

DARIUS RUCKER:
LEARN TO LIVE
(CAPITOL) **

Darius Rucker is not Hootie. He is, however, country.

Of course, country is an open-ended genre these days, and the well-known Hootie and the Blowfish frontman offers enough country cliches in "Learn to Live" to qualify. The title track has Grandpa on the porch offering life lessons on his knee. There's angry breakup ("All I Want"), a night with the "Best of Patsy Cline" ("Alright"), a car accident ("I Hope They Get to Me in Time") and waking up with an ex-girlfriend ("Drinkin' and Dialin'").

There also are tunes that wouldn't be out of place on a Hootie CD.

"Don't Think I Don't Think About It" reached No. 1 on the U.S. country charts. The second release, "It Won't Be Like This for Long," is a thoughtful, don't-sweat-the-small-stuff ballad along the lines of Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink." And "While I Still Got the Time" is a celebration of living right.

Download This: "While I Still Got the Time"

Marty Strasen

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